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Miami defeats Cleveland in more than just free-agent signings

Adam Hill

First they took LeBron, now the Heat defeat the Cavaliers on the proving grounds of the summer league. Antywane Robinson scored 15 points, including what proved to be a decisive jumper from the wing with 50 seconds remaining, to help Miami to a 73-69 win over Cleveland at Cox Pavilion in the NBA Vegas Summer League. Weyinmi Efejuku added 13 points for the Heat. Jarvis Varnado had eight points and 10 rebounds. Danny Green had 17 points for the Cavaliers, but left late in the game with an ankle injury. He walked off with a limp, but under his own power. Jerome Dyson added 14 points in the loss. Over at the Thomas & Mack Center, Ronald Dupree scored 24 points to help the Raptors get a 101-93 win over the Hornets as both teams stayed true to form this week. Toronto moved to 5-0, while New Orleans fell to 0-5. Cheikh Samb, who had been averaging 1.7 points per game this week, added 19 points for the Raptors. DeMar DeRozan, Sonny Weems and Joey Dorsey all sat out the summer finale for Toronto. Quincy Pondexter poured in a game-high 26 points for New Orleans, while Maurice Ager added 21 in the loss. Craig Brackins had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets.

Randolph bloodied

Miami came to town with two former Duke players on its summer league roster. Neither of them made it through the week. Jon Scheyer was poked in the eye early in the week and did not return to the lineup. Today, Shavlik Randolph took a shot to the head under the basket and went to the floor. The view of him laying on the floor was obstructed, but teammate Kenny Hasbrouck told the story as he shouted to the bench. “He’s leaking,” the former Siena star yelled. “Hey, he’s leaking.” Moments later, Randolph rolled over to reveal a face full of blood. He left the game and did not return, though he did make it back to the bench in the fourth quarter. Randolph, who said after the game he was either kicked or kneed, had five stitches just over his left eyebrow. Maybe this venue is trying to get revenge for 1991.

Revenge must wait

The game was the first opportunity for Cleveland to get some vengeance on the organization that took its superstar. Of course, it would have meant absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things. While most people in Cleveland probably don’t even know these games are going on, don’t you think the average fan just hates seeing the score flash by with Miami defeating Cleveland in anything? Things just never go right for that town, but don’t worry ye folks of northeast Ohio. September is coming and while you are freezing and waiting for the first blizzard of the autumn of 2010, the people of Miami have to suffer through that one tough week of in the year when it drizzles a couple times and the incredibly attractive women actually have to wear raincoats over their bikinis.

Where’s Rashad?

Former North Carolina star Rashad McCants was listed on Cleveland’s summer league roster all week, but kept getting DNP’s on the box score. It was odd that he would not be put in the game, but even more strange was that he was never even spotted on the team’s bench. McCants is an immense talent, but appears to be on the verge of running out of chances in the NBA. He did not play a game in the league last season after suffering an injury in training camp and failing to make the Rockets’ roster. Cleveland brought him in, perhaps hoping to catch lightning in a bottle and find an explosive scorer to replace you-know-who. But McCants never showed up. According to reports, he finally alerted the team that he would not be able to make it out to Las Vegas after they had already been here for several days. Other reports say McCants’ mother fell ill and he has been caring for her. Either way, the organization appears to be upset with McCants for not informing them he would not be with the team. He may get another chance with someone when training camp comes around, but this is probably one more team he has alienated.